Insulated rail-joint.



IVNO. 858,384.. A PATENTBD 00T. 15, 1907.

B. WOLHAUPTER.

INSULATBD RAIL JOINT. APPLIOATIQN FILED JAN.2,-1ao7.

PATENTED 00T. 1'5, 1907.

B. WOLHAUPTER; INSULATED RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 26, 1907.

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f TM mfc 89@ No. 888,884. PATENTBD 00T. 15,1190?.

B. WOLHAUPTER.

INSULATBD RAIL JOINT. APPLIoATIoN FILED JAN. 86,1801.

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No. 888,384. PATENTED 00T. 15, 1907. '8. WOLHAUPTER. INSULATBD RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1907.

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Hmmulmlmmlmnguj WIT/VES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN WOLHAUPTER, Ol NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE RAIL JOINT COMPANY, Ol." NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' INSULATED RAIL-JOINT.

No. 868,384.. f

Specification ofV Letters' Patent.

Iatented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application led January 26,1907. Serial No. 354,284.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN WOLHAUPTER, a citizen o the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lnsulated Rail-Joints, of which tliiollowing is a speciication.

This invention relates to that class of insulated rail joints embodying a two-part or sectional base plate wherebyra separate supporting base or base plate is provided for each rail end, while at the same time providing for such an insulation of the joint that there is no insulating material which is required to carry the load or weight of the passing trains.

A special object of the present invention is toprovide certain novel and practical improvements in the design and construction of the individual base'plate sections tofsecure a more effective and complete reinforcement thereof, and also toadapt the two-part base plate feature to `forms of rail joints wherein definite and positive means are provided for exerting a downward pressure upon the rails in order to hold the same down to the base plates, and at the same 'time to hold both rails in 'unison against upward thrust.

Other general objects of the invention are the same as those carried out in connection with the forms of insulated joints disclosed and' clailned'in a companion application filed November 8, 1906, Serial No. 342,523.

With these and other objects in view, which will more rcadilyappear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the not el construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

lThe essential'features of the invention involved in carrying out the objects above indicated, are necessarily susceptible to structural modificationwithout departing from the scope thereof, but a few of the prefer-red embodiments of the invention are shown -in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a sectionahperspective view of a form of rail joint embodying the present invention, in'which the side clamp elements are in the form of strut bars. Figs. 2 and 3 are separated perspective views' respectively of the opposite joint shoes, and also illustrating a form ofend baseinsulatioii that may be utilized between the inner spaced ends of the separate base plate sections. Fig. 4 is a base plan view on the line 4 4 ot' Fig. l, showing the matching relation of the separate base plate sectionsand also one means of insulating the said sections from each other, and each section from the opposite joint shoe.- zsgFig.' 5 'is' a Vcross seetionalrview showing a mOdiedstrUcture of'joint embodying the,

ing the improvements claimed herein. Figs. 7 and 8 are separated perspective views, respectively,V of the opposite joint shoes employed in the construction of joint shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional View of another form of joint embodying the present invention. Fig, l0 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the plane of section indicated by the line 10-l0 in Figs. 4 and 9 of the drawings, illustrating the insulation between the inner end edges of the base'sections held in the seat or depression opposite the vone shown in Fig. 2; the view also indicating the rail positionsrin dotted lines. j Like references designate correspondingv several gures 'of the drawings. j

Referring to the exemplitication of the inventionl shown Ain the group of figures l to 4 inclusive of the parts the plate for the rail jointlhand a horizontal base plate section 7 proj ecjting inwardly from the lower edge of the member drawings the rail joint proper includes the service or y 6 and arranged to lie beneath a rail base. In the preferable Vconstruction of joint the upright member or side joint plate of each shoe is integral withLA the base plate member thereof, and at the outer corner ofthe shoe the same may be formed with a continuous reinforcing and in carrying out the invention, theupright member of each shoe may be arranged perpendicularly, or at aninclination, to the horizontal planegof ,the base plate section 7, according to the design and-requirements of the joint, but in all adaptations of the invention the -A base plate section 7 `of each shoe is preferably of an extreme length approximately equaling one-half the full length of the rail joint members, so that eachl base plate n section receives and supports thereon one rail end, and, in order that the support for both rail ends may be alike, the separate base plates are duplicates in design and i arrangement, and are located respectively at oppositel sides of the joint between the meeting ends o f the rails..

Inthis connection it will be seen thatv the opposite 11064y 'joint shoes 3 and`4 areconstructedso that-one osaid. v v

B119F28. designated by thepumber 3', has its basefplate, Y Y.

section 7 projected' inwardly 'from' one endportion 'thereof on1y,', while thelopposite shoe, designated.. by Y the number 4, base plate' section projected inwardly from the correspondingly, but diagonally, op-v* "posite end portion oithe sama. Hence, eachbase plate'= ,A i section receives thereon one rail end to aord such rail Y i end a support on both sides of the meeting point of the v rail ends without contact with the corresponding base plished by. bending downward the inner triangular end portion of each base plate section to produce a pendent triangular reinforcing girder flange 9, which is disposed obliquely or at an angle to the transverse plane of the joint. This diagonal pendent triangular girder iange 9, at the inner-end of each base plate section, serves to materially strengthen and support such end against the downward thrust of the rail end, and by reason of the diagonal or oblique disposition of the inner ends of the separate base plate sections and their girder flanges, the said inner end of each baseplate section necessarily overlaps or projects across the plane of the joint between the meeting ends oi the rails. ln order that the rail end on'one base plate section may not have a bearing on or metallic contact with the opposite base plate section, each of the latter has formed in one corner of its floor a triangular, or other suitably shaped, clearance depression -10 which is disposed beneath a corner of the rail end projecting pastthe opposite base plate section. The said clearance depressions 10 ofthe separate base plate sections 7 are arranged in transversely opposite positions to secure the function noted.

To sccurean effective insulation between' the inner spaced end edges of the separate baseplate sections 7, an end insulating web 11 may be interposed between said ends and .the `girder flanges 9 pendent therefrom,

and a convenient and practical expedient which may be resorted to for holding the insulation 11 in place is to provide the same, at its top edge, with a holding lip 12 which may be seated within one of the clearance depressions 10. The rail end over this clearance depression will therefore serve to hold such insulation in place without imposing the pressure of the load thereon.

, .However any practical insulation may be utilized between the inner end edges of the separate Ybase plate sections 7.

The insulation between the longitudinal edge of each base plate section, and the opposite joint shoe may be conveniently provided for by .interposing between these elements an insulating apron or fiange 13 forming ange extensions from insulating strips 14 interposed between the inner corners of the rail bases and the side clamp elements 5. There is necessarily one of the inulatingstrips 14 at each side of the rails, and each strip is formed with a halflength apron or flange extension 13 :the result .of exerting a downward clamping action which serves to place a downward pressure upon the nass Heng-ss of the rails, thereby holding both mais on their bases in unison against upward thrust. In the practical carrying out ofthis phase of the invention, it is preferable to provide each of the diagonally arranged strut bars 5 at the upper edge thereof with a bearing head 17 and at its lower edge with a bearing foot 18. The bearing foot of each strut bar has a fulcrurn bearing at the corner of the base iange therebelow (on the interposed insulation), and the upper bearing head 17 is engaged by the under inclined bearing face 19 located on the under'surface of the rib or flange forming the pressure head 15 at the top of the side joint plate oi' the shoe.

-'l`he joint bolts 16 are arranged to pass through the 'aimed boit holes in the side joint plates G, the strut bars 5, and the rail webs, and are provided with the usual head and nut members 20 and 2l. An effective bolt insulation is provided for by utilizing the woll known insulating expedients of the metal and insulating washers 22 `and 23 at the inner sides ol' the head and nut members 20 and v21, and the insulating sleeves or bushings 24 arranged in the bolt holes of the side joiul plates or members 6.

Another form of joint having the saine mechanical and electrical functions as the one already described is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings and suggests the idea ol' substitutiinfor one of the strut bars 5 at one side ol' thc rails, a wooden or equivalent filler block 25 provided at its top side with an" inclined wedging face 26 upon which bears thel inclined bearing face 19 of the head 15 arranged thereover, so that upon the tightening of the bolts the riding of the face 19 over the face 26 causes a wedging or forcing down of the filler block 25 upon the base flange of the rails. insulation between the joint shoe, at the filler side, and

the base plate section ol' the opposite shoe may be pro vided for by interposing an insulating strip between said elements and holding it in place between the filler block 25 and -the rail base. In all other respects the construction shown in Fig. 5 is the sameas shown in Fig. l, and similar reference characters will apply to similar parts in the separate elements.

Another ,form of joint having the mechanical and iusulating functions of the joints already described is shown lin Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings. Referring to this construction it widl be seen by reference to Fig. 6 that tho opposite side joint shoes are cach provided` in addition to the heads or head ribs 15, with a lower supplemental pressure Arib 28 proj ecting inwardly thorefrom in a plane below the head` l5 and provided with an inclined bearing face 29 adaptedto ride upon tho inclined foot flange 30 of aside clarnp element 31 in thc form of a channel or angle bar. The channel or anglo bar 31 at each side of the rails is designed to flt between the head and/base flange of the rail in the manner common to the conventional types of angle bars. but. in ad- ,dition to the foot flange 3 0 thereof, each of the said side channel clamp bars 30 is provided at its upper edgc with an inclined Wedging flange 32 engaged by the under inclined bearing face 19 of the pressure head of the joint plate. The same design and arrangement of parts are duplicated at opposite sides of the rails (as shown in Fig. (i), and it will be observed that upon thc lightcuing of the joint bolts each joint shoe exerts a wedging action upon the flanges 32 and 30 of cach channel lmr 3l with the result of crowding the saine inward and downward, thereby pressing the rails down to the base plates In this modification, the

@Basse and holding both rails in unison against upward thrust. Also, in this form oi the invention the upper edges oi the channel bars 31 exert a firm upward pressure under the heads o the rails with the result of tending to correct downward thrust oi the rail ends.

In insulating the joint shown in Fig. 6, side insulating sheets 33 are interposed between the side channel bars or clamp elements 3l and the rails, and each side insulating sheet 33 is provided with a bottom apron extension 34 projecting into the gap between one base plate section and the opposite joint shoe.

In further illustration of the wide range of applicability of the improvements claimed herein, another practical forrn of insulated rail joint embodying the same is shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The joint shown in this figure oi the drawings involves an effective combination o the opposite joint shoes with channel bars 36 fitting within the sides oi the rails. and wooden or equivalent filler blocks 37 interposed between the channel 'bars and the upright members of the shoes 3 and 4. Referring particularly to this construction, it will bel observed that the channel bars 36 act in the capacity o the clamp elements herein reerred to, and each of the same is provided at its upper and lower edges with the head and oot flanges 38 and 39 respectively, which are of duplicate design and are disposed at similar angles so as to make the bar reversible, and capable o being reversed from end to end to bring either of the flanges 3S and 39 uppermost, and at the same time cause a perfect registration oi the channel bar at the side o the rails between the head and base iianges thereof.

As indicated, one ot' the distinctive features of the form o joint shown in Fig. 9 resides in interposing a wooden or vequivalent filler 'block 37 between each channel bar 36 and the opposing upright member or girder (i oi one of the joint shoes, and said filler block 37 is preferably provided with double beveled upper and lower sides on each of which are formed the separate opposite bevels or beveled faces 40 and 4l which extend ironi the vertical center oi the block to the flat side laces of thesame. It will be noted that the bevels or beveled faces 40 at one side oi the vertical center ol' each block 39 register with the correspondingl faces or bevels of the head and foot flanges 38 and 39 oi' the opposing channel bar, while the uppermost outer bevel 4l oi each filler block is engaged by the correspondingly inclined or beveled face .i9 of the head l5 of the opposing shoe member or girder 6. Preferably, tho bevels or beveled faces 4() and 4l of each iiller block are oi uniform extent and angularity and register interchangeably with the head and ioot flanges ol the channel bar and with the beveled face ofthe head oi the upright member or girder o the shoe, consequently providing a filler block which is of uniform and duplicate formation along the top and p bottom thereof and tliereiorc reversible from end to end and vertically, that is capable of being reversed from side to side, from top to bottom, and from end to end. Though this is a preferable and practical con-I struction, the same may be obviously modiiied without affecting the essential features of the invention claimed herein.

It will be observed that in the construction described tlie liller block and channel bar arrangement, in connection with thc upright members or girdcrs of the shoes, provide means whereby"7 upon'the drawing` together of the joint members bythe tighteningot the bolts, the channel bars will be crowded with a hrm pressure beneath the heads of the'railsandover the -base flanges thereof with the result oi etfectually brac ing the rails against upward or `downward thrust. Also, the construction described provides a most efective and thorough insulation of the joint by reason oi the employment of the wooden iiller blocks 37 which supplement the'insulating functions of the side insulating sheets 33 interposed between'the channel bars or clamp elements 36 and the sides of the rails. The side insulating sheets 33 are oi the same form and preserve .precisely the same functions as the corresponding and similarly numbered elements shown in Fig ot' the drawings. p l

In all ormsoi the invention the insulation between the ends of the rails is provided for by the usual insulating end post 35 interposed between such ends. i Other modifications will readily suggest themselves to those familiar with the art, and it is thought that the construction and many advantages of the herein described improvements will be apparent, without further description.

1 I claim:

1. In an insulated rail joint, the rails, and side joint plates each carrying a base section alordintz.r a support for one rail end only and provided with a reinforcing ange, and insulating means.

2. ln an insulated ruil joint, the rails, and side joint plates each carrying a base plate section provided with a 'reinforced inner end edge, and insulation between the rail ends. f

3. In an insulated rail joint, the rails, and side joint plates each carrying n base plate secronprovidod at. its

' inner end with a diagonal reinforcing flange, and insulation between the ruil ends. v

4. In an insulated rail joint, the rails, and side joint plates each carrying a base plate section provided at its inner end with u diagonal triangular reinforcing flange. und insulation between the rail ends.

5. in an linsulated rail joint, the rails, and side jointv plates each carrying a hase plate section aioi'ding n sup port for one rail end and having a diagonally arranged inner end crossing the joint between the rail ends, and insulation between the rail ends.

0. in an insulated rail joint, the rails. and side joint plates each carrying a base plate section ador-ding a support for one rail end and having a diagonally arranged reinforced end edge crossing the plane of the joint between the ruil ends, und insulation between the rail ends.

's'. In an insulated rail joint, 'the rails, and side joint plates euch carrying a buse plate section for one rail end und each having a clearence portion for the rail supported by tho other base plate section, and insulation between the rull ends.

S. ln nn insulated rail joint, the rails, and side joint.v plates. euch of uuid plates carrying a buse section for one ruil end und hnving u diagonal flanged inner end crossing the pinne oi" the ,lolut between the ends o'f the rails, and ouch buse section also having a clearance portion for tho ruil ond supported by the other oase section. and insulation between tbc rail ends.

2). ln un insulated ruil joint, the rails, side joint plates ouch curl-ving a bnso plate section provided with a bent down col-nor forming n reinforcing: girdor. and insulation between tlu` rall ends. i v

lo. ln nn insulated rail joint, the rails, and side joint plates eur-b carl-ying u base plato section provided at its inner und portion' willi :i beni down corner formingr a pondent diagonalrolnforeing grdrr. and insulation lwlivcen ibo ruil ends.

ll. In :1n insulated rail joint, the rails. side jointplaios nach carrying a basl: plate section for one ruil cud, and

insulation -interposed between the separate base plate sections und held upon one section by the rail end supported on the' other section.

12. In an insulated rail joint, the rails, side joint plates each carrying a base plate section for one rail end, and .insulation intei'posed'between the inner ends of the sepa rate base plate sections and having a holding member held upon one section by the rail end supported on the other section. i 13. In an insulated rail joint, the rails, and side joint lates each arrj'ing a base plate section for one rail end nd provided with a clearance depression `underlying the rail end supported on the other base plate section, and an 'insulating web interposed between the baseA plate sections and held in said clearance depression.

14. In an insulated rail joint, the rails, opposite con-A pleinental joi t shoes each 'carrying an individual base plate for one\ rail end, and clamp elements interposed between vthe joint shoesand 'the rails und copernting therewith to provide means for forcing the rails downnl'arci when the joint parts are drawn togethery and insulation between the rail ends. i 15. In an insulatedn'ail joint, the rails, opposite comvplemental joint shoes each carrying nu individual base plate section for one rail end, each joint shoe having a head at the top of its upright member, and clamp elements interposed between the heads o1' the shoes and tin` rail bases and cooperating therewith to exert a downward thrust upon the rails when the joint parts are drawn together, and insulation between the rail ends.

In testimony whereof i hereunto atiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN WOLIXAUITER.V Witnesses:

KATHERINE M. WALBY, E. A. VAN Di-znsnxf, 

